Light fixture

ABSTRACT

A light fixture and especially a light fixture of the type comprising an exit-indicating light, a restroom-indicating light or the like, and comprising a housing having an open end, and adapted for mounting on a supporting surface. The fixture has panel means with indicia thereon such as the words &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Exit&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Restroom&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or the like, with the housing having a removable powerpack, either a fluorescent powerpack or incandescent powerpack, slidably supported on rails in the housing, for illuminating the housing and panel means. The powerpack has an end cover secured thereto which closes the open end of the housing when the powerpack is disposed in operative position in the housing. When the powerpack is in operative position in the housing, an electric plug on the powerpack coacts with an electric socket mounted in the housing, for connecting the powerpack to a source of current. Replacement of the powerpack or components thereof can be readily made by merely grasping the end cover on the powerpack and sliding the powerpack from the housing.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Joseph L. Jaffe, Jr.

Shaker Heights, Ohio [Zl] Appl. No. 700,799

[22] Filed Jan. 26, 1968 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 [73] Assignee Perleclite,lne.

Cleveland, Ohio [54] LIGHT FIXTURE 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

52 U.S.-Cl 40/l30K [5]] Int. Cl G09! 13/18 [50] FieldofSearch 40/130 K, 65, 130; 240/511] [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,558,538 6/1951 Chambers 40/132 X 2,907,872 10/1959 Wilson 240/66 X 3,lll,782 ll/l963 Quigley 40/65 X 3,402,493 9/l968 Mellyn etal. 40/130 3,402,494 9/ I968 Gray 40/ 130 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Richard Carter Attorney-Baldwin, Egan, Walling & Fetzer ABSTRACT: A light fixture and especially a light fixture of the type comprising an exit-indicating light, a restroom-indicating light or the like, and comprising a housing having an open end, and adapted for mounting on a supporting surface.

The fixture has panel means with indicia thereon suchas the words Exit" or Restroom" or the like, with the housing having a removable powerpack, either a fluorescent powerpack or incandescent powerpack, slidably supported on rails in the housing, for illuminating the housing and panel means. The powerpack has an end cover secured thereto which closes the open end of the housing when the powerpack is disposed in operative position in the housing. When the powerpack is in operative position in the housing, an electric plug on the powerpack coacts with an electric socket mounted in the housing, for connecting the powerpack to a source of current. Replacement of the powerpack or components thereof can be readily made by merely grasping the end cover on the powerpack and sliding the powerpack from the housing.

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INVENTOR. JBJEPH L. Jk/FE Jk LIGHT FIXTURE This invention relates in general to light fixtures such as, for instance, exit-indicating lights, restroom-indicating lights or the like, and more particularly to a novel arrangement of light fixture having a readily removable powerpack unit, for expeditious replacement of the powerpack unit or components thereof, resulting in materially reducing the time involved in maintaining the light fixture.

Exit light fixtures and the like indicating the location of an exit or other facility are known in the art. However, when it is necessary to replace a part of the powerpack unit of the light fixture, such as for instance the incandescent or fluorescent bulbs or tubes, considerable time and effort is involved.

The present arrangement permits ready removal of the powerpack unit from the light fixture for replacement of any parts thereof, or replacement of the entire powerpack unit, in a rapid and expeditious manner.

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide a novel light fixture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel light fixture which includes a housing and powerpack unit mounted in the housing for illuminating the fixture and wherein the powerpack unit is readily removable from the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light fixture of the latter type wherein the powerpack unit is slidably mounted in trackways in the housing, for supporting the powerpack unit in the housing in operative position, and providing for ready removal of the powerpack unit from the housing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light fixture of the above-described type wherein the powerpack unit includes a closure cover at one end thereof for closing the open end of the housing when the powerpack unit is disposed in operative position in the housing, with the cover having means thereon for grippingly securing the powerpack unit in operative position in the housing, but providing for ready removal of the powerpack unit from the housing upon applying an outward pull on the end cover of the powerpack unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light fixture of the above type wherein panel means having informational indicia thereon is disposed in suspended relation on the housing and is adapted for illumination by the powerpack means disposed in the housing, and including means for removably mounting the panel means on the housing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a light fixture of the above-discussed type including directional indicia on the housing, with means for readily changing the directional indicia on the housing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a light fixture embodying the instant invention. The light fixture illustrated is an exit light fixture and is of the end-mounted type;

FIG. 2 is a reduced size, broken side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the directional indicia appearing through the openings in the side of the housing and having been changed from that illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a reduced size, side elevational view of a powerpack unit adapted for insertion into the housing of FIG. 2. The powerpack unit illustrated is of the fluorescent type;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3 but showing an incandescent type of powerpack unit;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, end elevational view taken generally along the plane of line 5-5 of FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. I, looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the mounting of the removable fluorescent-type powerpack unit in the housing;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. In

dot-dash lines there is shown a portion of the powerpack unit and associated end closure cover upon initial withdrawal of the power pack unit from the housing;

FIG 8 is an enlarged side elevational view generally similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the fluorescent type of powerpack unit;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view generally similar to FIG. 7, but showing an incandescent type of powerpack unit mounted in the housing. In dot-dash lines there is shown a portion of the powerpack unit and end closure cover upon initial withdrawal of the powerpack unit from the housing;

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view taken generally along the plane of line 10-10 of FIG. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG 11 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line I I-Il of FIG. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the mounting of the incandescent powerpack unit in the housing of the light fixture.

Referring now again to the drawings, there is illustrated a light fixture l0 embodying the invention, with such light fixture comprising a housing member 12 secured to an endmounting member I4, for mounting the light fixture on a generally vertical surface 16. It will be understood that, while the fixture illustrated is an end-mounted fixture, such fixture could be a ceiling-mounted or top-mounted or back-mounted or pendant-mounted type of fixture. The only requirement is that the outer end of the light fixture be generally accessible for grasping by a workman for replacing or removing the powerpack from the light fixture, as will be hereinafter described.

As can be best seen from FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the housing 12 comprises a tubularlike member which may be formed from any suitable material, such as, for instance, extruded aluminum, with the tubular member being closed at its inner end thereof, as by an end cap 18 secured thereto, which in turn, is secured to the mounting member 14, and with the other end of the tubularlike housing member being open.

Housing 12 may comprise top wall portion 20 and generally vertically extending upper sidewall portions 20a, and generally converging lower sidewall portions 20b, with each sidewall portion 20b merging with generally horizontally extending bottom wall portion 20c. Depending from the housing 12 is the sign section 22 of the light fixture which, in the embodiment illustrated, is an exit-indicating sign.

Sign section 22 in the embodiment illustrated comprises transparent panels 24 which may be of clear acrylic resin, with a divider panel 26 disposed therebetween. Panels 24 have lettering indicia thereon such as, for instance, the word Exit" as shown in FIG. 1. Outer panels 24 and the divider panel 26 may be secured to one another by means of fasteners 28 thus holding the sign section of the fixture in assembled condition. The upper portion of the sign section 22 may be provided with laterally extending lug portions 30 (FIG. 6) which support the sign section 22 in depending relation on the housing 12. Such lugs are adapted to be received in channels 32 in the bottom wall portion 200 of the housing, and on opposite sides of the sign section. Section 22 preferably extends upwardly through the slot 33 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which preferably runs the full' length of the housing 12, with such sign section being illuminated by the light generated by the powerpack unit 36 in the housing.

Located (in the embodiment illustrated) approximately midway down from the top wall portion 20 of the housing, interiorly thereof, are opposed track means 34 which run lengthwise of the housing preferably for the full extent thereof, and on which is supported the powerpack unit 36 of the light fixture.

Powerpack unit 36 includes all of the conventional components for a light fixture, either incandescent or fluorescent, and in the case of the fluorescent illuminated fixture illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 includes the ballasts 38 (FIG. 7), the starter units 40, the tube sockets 41, and a pair of removable fluorescent tubes 42, all of the latter components being disposed in an integral package. One end of the powerpack unit includes an electrical plug 44 having conventional electrical energy transmitting prongs 44a projecting therefrom and adapted to be received in an electrical energy transmitting receptacle 46 mounted in the housing 112 as by means of bracket 48 (FIG. 7) for connecting the powerpack unit 36 to a source of electrical current. Receptacle 46 is coupled into the conventional wiring of a building circuit by lead in wires 47.

The powerpack unit, as can be best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, includes laterally extending wings 50 thereon, which wings have generally horizontally oriented distal portions 50a which are received in the complementary tracks or slots 34 interiorly of the housing 12, to support the powerpack unit in the housing while providing for ready removal of the powerpack unit from the housing, merely by withdrawing or sliding the powerpack unit from the open outer end of the housing 12.

In this connection the powerpack unit may include an end cover plate 54 secured as by means of fastener means 56, to the body of the powerpack unit, so that by merely gripping the end plate 54, the powerpack unit can be withdrawn lengthwise from the housing 12. It will be noted that the plate 54 preferably includes peripheral edge or flange portion 56 which is adapted to encompass the outer end of the housing 112 in snug-fitting relation so that when the powerpack unit is disposed in operative position in the housing, the outer end of the housing is frictionally coupled to the end plate 54, providing a slight resistance to the withdrawal movement of the powerpack unit from the housing. It will be seen that when the end plate is in closing position, the plate prevents withdrawal of the sign section 22 from its suspended relation with respect to the housing 12.

Referring now again to FIGS. l and 2, it will be seen that the housing has a pair of spaced openings 57, 57a in sidewall portions 20b, through which appear directional indicia 58 showing the direction of the facility indicated by the sign section 22. These directional indicia 58 may be located on both sides of housing 12 and are dispowd on panels 60 (FIG. 6) which are preferably movably or slidably mounted in the housing, so that by merely using the pressure of a workmans finger, he can selectively change the indicia which appear through openings 57, 57a. For instance, as shown in FIG. 2, the directional indicia has been changed from that shown in FIG. I, so that it points in both directions to indicate the directions of an exit or the like, while the directional indicia in FIG. 1 points in only one direction for the exit. The panels 60 are of such size that either directional indicia will appear through openings 57, 57a, depending upon the extent of lengthwise movement of the panel 60 with respect to the housing. As can be best seen in FIG. 6, the upper and lower edges of panels 60 are received generally loosely in coacting lengthwise extending grooves 61, 61a which preferably run the full length of housing 12. Headless setscrews 61b (FIGS. l and may be provided for holding panels 60 in selected position.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, and 9 through 111, and more particularly the incandescent powerpack unit 36, it likewise is removably mounted in the housing 112 in a similar manner as aforedescribed. Such incandescent unit, however, includes incandescent bulbs 62 and associated bulb sockets 62a rather than the fluorescent tubes and sockets of the fluorescent powerpack unit. Also the wing portions 50 of the powerpack unit 36 are of slightly different configuration since there is no need to provide clearance for ballasts and starters as used in the fluorescent unit. The wings 50' include generally horizon tal offset portions 64 which are received in the tracks 34 of the housing in a similar arrangement as aforedescribed in connection with the fluorescent unit. In other respects, the incandescent unit operates in a similar manner as the fluorescent unit and is automatically plugged into the receptacle 46 in the light fixture housing upon proper positioning of the incandescent powerpack unit 36' in the housing, and with the end panel 54 on the power pack unit 36' encompassing and engaging the open end of the housing in generally snug fitting relationship, thereby frictionally holding the powerpack unit in the housing.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the invention provides a novel light fixture which includes a removable powerpack unit which is automatically coupled into a circuit upon insertion of the unit into the housing of the light fixture, and wherein the powerpack unit is removably supported in the housing of the light fixture for ready removal thereof for replacement and/or repair of the powerpack unit. The light fixture also includes an arrangement for removably mounting the informational panels on the housing of the unit and an arrangement for selectively changing the directional indicia appearing on the sides of the unit to indicate the direction of the facility being identified by the light fixture. The invention also provides a light fixture of the above-discussed type wherein the powerpack unit includes an end closure cover or plate which is adapted to coact with the open end of the housing of the light fixture and to hold the powerpack unit in position in the fixture, and which cover serves as a grasping portion for pulling or sliding the powerpack unit out of the housing.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:

I. In a light fixture comprising a generally elongated housing adapted for mounting on a supporting surface said housing having at least one open end and including laterally spaced sidewalls, means on said housing depending therefrom for designating a facility and adapted to be illuminated, electrical powerpack means mounted in said housing and adapted when in operative position for illuminating said facility-designating means, an electrical energy transmitting coupling means on said powerpack means, another electrical energy transmitting coupling means mounted in the interior of said housing, said other coupling means being adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy, said coupling means adapted for automatic coupling with one another in the operative position of said powerpack means in said housing for connecting said powerpack means to the source of electrical energy, guide means in said housing on said sidewalls thereof extending lengthwise thereof, other elongated guide means on said powerpack means projecting generally laterally from the latter and coacting with said guide means in said housing for guiding lengthwise movement of said powerpack means into said housing to said operative position, and for causing accurate mating engagement of said coupling means on said powerpack means with said coupling means on said housing upon movement of said powerpack means to said operative position in said housing, said guide means on said powerpack means and said guide means in said housing extending for substantially the full interior lengthwise extent of said housing, cover means secured in nonmovable relation to one end of said powerpack means and closing said open end of said housing in said operative position of said powerpack means in said housing, and means on said cover means frictionally coacting with said open end of said housing for removably latching said powerpack means to said housing yet providing for ready linear withdrawal movement of said powerpack means andattached cover means from said housing upon outward sliding of said guide means on said powerpack means relative to said guide means in said housing.

2. A light fixture in accordance with claim 11 wherein said means on said cover means coacting with the open end of said housing for latching the powerpack means to the housing comprises peripheral flanges on said cover means which encompass the outer open end of the housing in snug-fitting relation when the powerpack means is disposed in operative position in the housing, to frictionally couple the cover means to said one end of the housing, and providing a relatively slight resistance to horizontal movement of the powerpack means from the housing, said electrical energy transmitting coupling means being disposed laterally of the lengthwise horizontal center plane of said housing.

3. A light fixture in accordance with claim 2 wherein at least one of said sidewalls includes a plurality of openings with directional indicium appearing in each opening, said directional indicium being disposed on a slide member mounted in said housing in confronting relation to said openings, other directional indicium disposed on said slide member for selectively changing the indicia appearing in said openings upon movement of said member lengthwise of said housing, said guide means in said housing on each of said sidewalls thereof comprising vertically spaced flanges defining a track, said guide means on said powerpack means comprising laterally extending wings received in a respective of said tracks between the flanges thereof for maintaining said electrical energy transmitting coupling means on said powerpack means in aligned relation with said other electrical energy transmitting coupling means during movement of said powerpack means to said operative position, said powerpack means extending for substantially the full interior lengthwise extent of said housing, and means on the other end of said housing for mounting the same on a wall surface.

4. A light fixture in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing includes a bottom wall connecting said sidewalls, said facility-designating means includes panel means supported on said bottom wall of said housing in depending relation with respect thereto and in downward vertically spaced relation to said power pack means, said panel means having laterally extending means thereon coacting with said bottom wall of said housing for supporting said panel means on said housing.

5. A light fixture in accordance with claim 4 wherein said laterally extending means on said panel means comprises lengthwise spaced lugs on said panel means coacting with lengthwise extending track means on said bottom wall of said housing whereby said panel means is removable from said housing by outward substantially linear sliding of said panel means relative to said housing in the direction of said one end of said housing after removal of said powerpack means and at- .tached cover means from said housing.

powerpack means being mounted adjacent the inner end of said powerpack means on the upper side thereof for coaction with said other electrical energy transmitting means when said powerpack means is in operative position in said housing.

7. A light fixture in accordance with claim 6 wherein said powerpack means include fluorescent lamps for illuminating said housing and said facility-designating means.

8. A light fixture in accordance with claim 6 wherein said powerpack means includes incandescent lamps for illuminating said housing and said facility designating means.

9. A light fixture in accordance with claim 6 wherein said housing comprises an extruded member said other end of said housing being closed, said bottom wall including an elongated slot extending lengthwise thereof and receiving therein said panel means indicia on said panel means, certain of said panel means being generally transparent for passage of light therethrough from the interior of said housing for illuminating said panel means.

10. A light fixture in accordance with claim 6 wherein said powerpack means includes a cover plate on one end thereof enclosing said open end of said housing when said powerpack means is disposed in operative position in said housing, said cover plate forming said cover means and having exteriorly accessible means adapted for grasping by a workman for causing sliding of said powerpack means out of the open end of said housing upon withdrawal movement of said cover plate laterally away from said housing. 

1. In a light fixture comprising a generally elongated housing adapted for mounting on a supporting surface said housing having at least one open end and including laterally spaced sidewalls, means on said housing depending therefrom for designating a facility and adapted to be illuminated, electrical powerpack means mounted in said housing and adapted when in operative position for illuminating said facility-designating means, an electrical energy transmitting coupling means on said powerpack means, another electrical energy transmitting coupling means mounted in the interior of said housing, said other coupling means being adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy, said coupling means adapted for automatic coupling with one another in the operative position of said powerpack means in said housing for connecting said powerpack means to the source of electrical energy, guide means in said housing on said sidewalls thereof extending lengthwise thereof, other elongated guide means on said powerpack means projecting generally laterally from the latter and coacting with said guide means in said housing for guiding lengthwise movement of said powerpack means into said housing to said operative position, and for causing accurate mating engagement of said coupling means on said powerpack means with said coupling means on said housing upon movement of said powerpack means to said operative position in said housing, said guide means on said powerpack means and said guide means in said housing extending for substantially the full interior lengthwise extent of said housing, cover means secured in nonmovable relation to one end of said powerpack means and closing said open end of said housing in said operative position of said powerpack means in said housing, and means on said cover means frictionally coacting with said open end of said housing for removably latching said powerpack means to said housing yet providing for ready linear withdrawal movement of said powerpack means and attached cover means from said housing upon outward sliding of said guide means on said powerpack means relative to said guide means in said housing.
 2. A light fixture in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means on said cover means coacting with the open end of said housing for latching the powerpack means to the housing comprises peripheral flanges on said cover means which encompass the outer open end of the housing in snug-fitting relation when the powerpack means is disposed in operative position in the housing, to frictionally couple the cover means to said one end of the housing, and providing a relatively slight resistance to horizontal movement of the powerpack means from the housing, said electrical energy transmitting coupling means being disposed laterally of the lengthwise horizontal center plane of said housing.
 3. A light fixture in accordance with claim 2 wherein at least one of said sidewalls includes a plurality of openings with directional indicium appearing in each opening, said directional indicium being disposed on a slide member mounted in said housing in confronting relation to said openings, other directional indicium disposed on said slide member for selectively changing the indicia appearing in said openings upon movement of said member lengthwise of said housing, said guide means in said housing on each of said sidewalls thereof comprising vertically spaced flanges defining a track, said guide means on said powerpack means comprising laterally extending wings received in a respective of said tracks between the flanges thereof for maintaining said electrical energy transmitting coupling means on said powerpack means in aligned relation with said other electrical energy transmitting coupling means during movement of said powerpack means to said operative position, said powerpack means extending for substantially the full interior lengthwise extent of said housing, and means on the other end of said housing for mounting the same on a wall surface.
 4. A light fixture in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing includes a bottom wall connecting said sidewalls, said facility-designating means includes panel means supported on saiD bottom wall of said housing in depending relation with respect thereto and in downward vertically spaced relation to said power pack means, said panel means having laterally extending means thereon coacting with said bottom wall of said housing for supporting said panel means on said housing.
 5. A light fixture in accordance with claim 4 wherein said laterally extending means on said panel means comprises lengthwise spaced lugs on said panel means coacting with lengthwise extending track means on said bottom wall of said housing whereby said panel means is removable from said housing by outward substantially linear sliding of said panel means relative to said housing in the direction of said one end of said housing after removal of said powerpack means and attached cover means from said housing.
 6. A light fixture in accordance with claim 5 wherein said housing includes a top wall connected to said sidewalls, said other electrical energy transmitting coupling means being mounted on said top wall adjacent the other end of said housing, said electrical energy transmitting coupling means on said powerpack means being mounted adjacent the inner end of said powerpack means on the upper side thereof for coaction with said other electrical energy transmitting means when said powerpack means is in operative position in said housing.
 7. A light fixture in accordance with claim 6 wherein said powerpack means include fluorescent lamps for illuminating said housing and said facility-designating means.
 8. A light fixture in accordance with claim 6 wherein said powerpack means includes incandescent lamps for illuminating said housing and said facility designating means.
 9. A light fixture in accordance with claim 6 wherein said housing comprises an extruded member said other end of said housing being closed, said bottom wall including an elongated slot extending lengthwise thereof and receiving therein said panel means indicia on said panel means, certain of said panel means being generally transparent for passage of light therethrough from the interior of said housing for illuminating said panel means.
 10. A light fixture in accordance with claim 6 wherein said powerpack means includes a cover plate on one end thereof enclosing said open end of said housing when said powerpack means is disposed in operative position in said housing, said cover plate forming said cover means and having exteriorly accessible means adapted for grasping by a workman for causing sliding of said powerpack means out of the open end of said housing upon withdrawal movement of said cover plate laterally away from said housing. 